Chris Froome, far left, had to play second fiddle to Bradley Wiggins in the Tour de France, but will get his chance in the Vuelta a España. Photograph: PA

The Tour de France runner-up, Chris Froome, is set to lead Team Sky's Vuelta a España campaign, the British squad have announced.

Froome, who finished behind his Sky team-mate Bradley Wiggins in the Tour, was named in the lineup alongside his fellow Britons Ian Stannard and Ben Swift for the race, which begins in Pamplona on 18 August.

Froome, the bronze medallist in the Olympic Games time trial Wiggins won, finished second in the 2011 Vuelta, one place ahead of Wiggins, and will be expected to challenge the returning Alberto Contador for the overall title.

"It's always been my plan to ride the Vuelta," the 27-year-old said. "I'll be going into the race as team leader but that's not to say we don't have other guys who can be right up there on the GC [general classification]. Rigoberto and Sergio both have huge potential, and Richie is another guy who could shine.

"I'm going to do the best job I can and do whatever's required of me from the team. Initially I'll be riding for the GC, but if one of my team-mates shows that they're in a better place to win the race then I'll happily work for them. We're sending a first-rate squad and it should be a really exciting race."

Swift is the nominated sprinter. He added: "I'm really excited about being the team's main sprinter. There should be plenty of opportunities for me and I'll be doing my best to get my first Grand Tour stage win."